Kousei Arima, the prodigious pianist from Your Lie in April (Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso), is voiced by Natsuki Hanae in the original Japanese version and Max Mittelman in the English dub. Hanae’s performance captures Kousei’s emotional fragility, trauma, and gradual rediscovery of music, making it one of his most recognized early roles.
Natsuki Hanae (Japanese Voice Actor)
Date of Birth
June 26, 1991
About Natsuki
Natsuki Hanae is a highly acclaimed Japanese voice actor (seiyuu) known for his expressive vocal range and ability to portray emotionally complex protagonists. Since debuting in the early 2010s, he has risen to prominence with leading roles in major anime franchises. His performance as Kousei Arima helped solidify his reputation for portraying introspective and psychologically layered characters. He is affiliated with Across Entertainment.
Hometown
Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
Career Highlights
Natsuki Hanae’s career spans a wide range of genres, from emotional dramas to action-packed shonen series. Some of his most notable roles include:
- Tanjiro Kamado in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
- Ken Kaneki (Season 3 onward) in Tokyo Ghoul:re
- Kousei Arima in Your Lie in April
- Inaho Kaizuka in Aldnoah.Zero
- Takumi Aldini in Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma
- Vanitas in The Case Study of Vanitas
His portrayal of Kousei Arima stands out for its subtle emotional delivery, particularly in scenes dealing with grief, anxiety, and artistic pressure.
Full Current Filmography
The following is a structured list of documented voice acting credits based on widely available industry sources and may not be exhaustive.
Television Anime
- 2013 – Tari Tari (Additional Voices)
- 2014 – Your Lie in April (Kousei Arima)
- 2014 – Aldnoah.Zero (Inaho Kaizuka)
- 2015 – Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma (Takumi Aldini)
- 2016 – Prince of Stride: Alternative (Riku Yagami)
- 2016 – Bungo Stray Dogs (Shōsaku Katsura)
- 2017 – Tsuki ga Kirei (Yūta Mochizuki)
- 2018 – Tokyo Ghoul:re (Ken Kaneki / Haise Sasaki)
- 2019 – Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (Tanjiro Kamado)
- 2021 – The Case Study of Vanitas (Vanitas)
- 2022 – Summertime Rendering (Shinpei Ajiro)
- 2023 – The Dangers in My Heart (Ichikawa Kyotaro)
Anime Films
- 2016 – Your Name (Taki Tachibana’s Friend – minor role)
- 2020 – Demon Slayer: Mugen Train (Tanjiro Kamado)
- 2022 – Bubble (Hibiki)
Video Games
- Demon Slayer: Hinokami Chronicles (Tanjiro Kamado)
- Food Wars! Game adaptations (Takumi Aldini)
Critical Reception
Natsuki Hanae’s performance as Kousei Arima has been widely praised for its emotional authenticity and restraint. Critics and fans alike highlight how effectively he conveys Kousei’s internal struggles, particularly his trauma-induced inability to hear piano notes.
- Anime News Network review discussing performances in Your Lie in April:
Anime News Network Review (https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/your-lie-in-april/.80777) - MyAnimeList user and critic discussions frequently cite Hanae’s performance as a key strength of the series:
MyAnimeList Page (https://myanimelist.net/anime/23273/Shigatsu_wa_Kimi_no_Uso)
His later success in Demon Slayer further reinforced his standing as one of the leading male voice actors of his generation.
Social Media
X: @hanae0626 (https://x.com/hanae0626)
Max Mittelman (English Voice Actor)
Date of Birth
September 5, 1990
About Max
Max Mittelman is an American voice actor known for his dynamic performances across anime, video games, and animation. He has built a reputation for portraying energetic, emotionally nuanced, and sometimes eccentric characters. Mittelman’s versatility allows him to move seamlessly between comedic roles and intense dramatic performances. His portrayal of Kousei Arima highlights his ability to capture vulnerability and emotional depth, aligning closely with the character’s internal struggles.
Hometown
Los Angeles, California, USA
Career Highlights
Max Mittelman has voiced a wide range of popular characters across major franchises:
- Saitama in One Punch Man
- Ryuji Sakamoto in Persona 5
- Atsushi Murasakibara in Kuroko’s Basketball
- Arataki Itto in Genshin Impact
- Kousei Arima in Your Lie in April
His performance as Kousei Arima is noted for maintaining the emotional tone of the original Japanese portrayal while making it accessible to English-speaking audiences.
Full Current Filmography
The following list reflects documented voice acting credits from widely available sources and may not be exhaustive.
Anime (English Dub)
- 2014–2015 – Your Lie in April (Kousei Arima)
- 2015 – Aldnoah.Zero (Koichiro Marito – additional voices)
- 2016 – Kuroko’s Basketball (Atsushi Murasakibara)
- 2016 – One Punch Man (Saitama)
- 2017 – Blue Exorcist: Kyoto Saga (Additional Voices)
- 2018 – Devilman Crybaby (Miki Kuroda’s Brother – additional voices)
- 2019 – Carole & Tuesday (Pyotr)
Video Games
- 2016 – Persona 5 (Ryuji Sakamoto)
- 2020 – Persona 5 Royal (Ryuji Sakamoto)
- 2020 – Final Fantasy VII Remake (Additional Voices)
- 2021 – Genshin Impact (Arataki Itto)
- 2023 – Fire Emblem Engage (Additional Voices)
Animation & Other Media
- Miraculous Ladybug (Adrien Agreste – select English adaptations/related media)
- Ben 10 (Various voices)
Critical Reception
Max Mittelman’s performances are frequently praised for their energy, comedic timing, and emotional authenticity. His role as Saitama in One Punch Man received strong fan and critic approval for balancing deadpan humor with subtle character nuance.
- Behind The Voice Actors profile and role listings:
Behind The Voice Actors (https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Max-Mittelman/) - Fan and critic discussions on his Persona 5 performance:
Persona 5 Review – IGN (https://www.ign.com/articles/2017/04/04/persona-5-review)
His portrayal of Kousei Arima is appreciated for preserving the character’s emotional weight, particularly in key dramatic scenes involving trauma and recovery.
Social Media
X: @maxmittelman (https://x.com/maxmittelman)
